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Cerebral Palsy - Pediatric

Care for people with cerebral palsy is complex and requires the expertise of a variety of health care providers from multiple specialty areas. At the University of Michigan, nationally recognized specialists work together to provide comprehensive, coordinated care for people with cerebral palsy including cutting edge research and treatment. The comprehensive cerebral palsy team is made up of the following professionals:

Clinical nurse specialists

Developmental pediatricians

Neurologists

Neuropsychologists

Neurosurgeons

Occupational therapists

Ophthalmologists

Orthopedic surgeons

Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Specialists

Physical therapists

Recreational therapists

Rehabilitation engineers

Speech and language pathologists

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is not a single condition; rather it describes a wide range of physical and developmental problems caused by injury or abnormal development in the immature brain, usually before birth. People with cerebral palsy can have problems with:

Control of movement

Muscle tone

Weakness

Reflexes

Balance

There may also be additional medical and cognitive difficulties that are associated with damage to the brain. Other symptoms may include:

Swallowing disorders

Seizures

Constipation

Excessive drooling

Learning disabilities

There are different types of cerebral palsy depending on how the body is affected. A person might have quadriplegia, diplegia, triplegia, or hemiplegia. They may be spastic, dystonic, athetotic, or have other types of uncontrollable activity or muscular movements.